Method for Fabricating a Vertical LDMOS Device

ABSTRACT

A vertically arranged laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device comprises a trench extending into a semiconductor body toward a semiconductor substrate. The trench includes sidewalls, a bottom portion connecting the sidewalls, a dielectric material lining the trench and a diffusion agent layer lining the dielectric material. A lightly doped drain region adjoins the trench and extends laterally around the sidewalls from the diffusion agent layer into the semiconductor body. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a vertically arranged LDMOS device comprises forming a trench extending into a semiconductor body toward a semiconductor substrate, the trench including sidewalls, a bottom portion connecting the sidewalls, a dielectric material lining the trench and a diffusion agent layer lining the dielectric material. The method further comprises diffusing impurities from the diffusion agent layer through the dielectric material to form a lightly doped drain region extending laterally around the sidewalls into the semiconductor body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of semiconductors. More particularly, the invention relates to fabrication of trench type semiconductor devices.

2. Background Art

In many applications it is desirable for semiconductor devices to provide both high current conduction and high switching speeds. Trench type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) can achieve high cell density and provide high current conduction. However, trench MOSFETs typically have low switching frequency, partly due to substantial junction capacitances. For example, in conventional trench MOSFETs the entire drain may contribute to feedback capacitance. Thus, conventional trench MOSFETs can exhibit large switching power losses at high frequencies.

Laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors can have high switching speeds for given voltages, partly due to low junction capacitances. For example, in conventional LDMOS transistors, feedback capacitance is primarily comprised of gate-drain overlap, which is minimal. Thus, LDMOS transistors can be more desirable than trench MOSFETs in high frequency applications. However, LDMOS transistors generally have low cell density and low current conduction compared to trench MOSFETs.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a semiconductor device configured for high cell densities that is capable of providing both high switching speeds and high current conduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vertical laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device and method for fabricating same, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary vertically arranged laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the steps taken to implement one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view, which includes a portion of a wafer processed according to an embodiment of the invention, corresponding to an initial step in the flowchart in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view, which includes a portion of a wafer processed according to an embodiment of the invention, corresponding to an intermediate step in the flowchart in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view, which includes a portion of a wafer processed according to an embodiment of the invention, corresponding to an intermediate step in the flowchart in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3D shows a cross-sectional view, which includes a portion of a wafer processed according to an embodiment of the invention, corresponding to a final step in the flowchart in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a vertical laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device and method for fabricating same. The following description contains specific information pertaining to the implementation of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed in the present application. Moreover, some of the specific details of the invention are not discussed in order to not obscure the invention. The specific details not described in the present application are within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. To maintain brevity, other embodiments of the invention, which use the principles of the present invention, are not specifically described in the present application and are not specifically illustrated by the present drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary vertically arranged LDMOS device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 includes substrate 102, which can comprise a semiconductor substrate, for example, such as a heavily doped N type semiconductor substrate. As shown in FIG. 1, vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 also includes semiconductor body 104, which is disposed over substrate 102 and is of opposite conductivity type from substrate 102. Semiconductor body 104 can comprise, for example, an epitaxially grown P type semiconductor layer.

As further shown in FIG. 1, vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 comprises trenches 108 a and 108 b. Trench 108 a includes sidewalls 110 a and bottom portion 112 a connecting sidewalls 110 a. Trench 108 a further includes dielectric material 114 a, diffusion agent layer 116 a, insulative material 118 a, gate dielectric 122 a, and gate electrode 126 a. In trench 108 a, dielectric material 114 a is disposed on sidewalls 110 a and bottom portion 112 a and lines trench 108 a. Also in trench 108 a, diffusion agent layer 116 a lines dielectric material 114 a. As shown in FIG. 1, insulative material 118 a is disposed between sidewalls 110 a and is filling trench 108 a.

In vertically arranged LDMOS device 100, gate dielectric 122 a and gate electrode 126 a are situated over diffusion agent layer 116 a, insulative material 118 a, and gate dielectric 122 a in trench 108 a. Gate dielectric 122 a is disposed on sidewalls 110 a and gate electrode 126 a is situated between opposing sides of gate dielectric 122 a, such that, in operation, vertical inversion regions can form adjacent the opposing sides of gate dielectric 122 a adjoining trench 108 a.

Also in vertically arranged LDMOS device 100, trench 108 b includes similar elements as trench 108 a. For example, trench 108 b includes sidewalls 110 b, bottom portion 112 b, dielectric material 114 b, diffusion agent layer 116 b, insulative material 118 b, gate dielectric 122 b, and gate electrode 126 b corresponding to sidewalls 110 a, bottom portion 112 a, dielectric material 114 a, diffusion agent layer 116 a, insulative material 118 a, gate dielectric 122 a, and gate electrode 126 a.

FIG. 1 also shows lightly doped drain regions 124 a and 124 b. As shown in FIG. 1, lightly doped drain region 124 a is adjoining trench 108 a and extends laterally around sidewalls 110 a from diffusion agent layer 116 a into semiconductor body 104. Similarly, lightly doped region 124 b is adjoining trench 108 b and extending laterally around sidewalls 110 b from diffusion agent layer 116 b into semiconductor body 104. In FIG. 1, lightly doped drain regions 124 a and 124 b are of opposite conductivity type from semiconductor body 104. For example, lightly doped drain region 124 a can comprise N type semiconductor material. In vertically arranged LDMOS device 100, lightly doped drain region 124 a overlaps a small portion of gate electrode 126 a adjacent gate dielectric 122 a in semiconductor body 104 and extends vertically toward substrate 102. Similarly, lightly doped drain region 124 b overlaps a small portion of gate electrode 126 b adjacent gate dielectric 122 b in semiconductor body 104 and extends vertically toward substrate 102. Thus, feedback capacitance from gate-drain overlap can be minimal. In operation, lightly doped drain regions 124 a and 124 b, can deplete rapidly from all sides providing high switching frequency in vertically arranged LDMOS device 100.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, lightly doped drain regions 124 a and 124 b each extend into and contact substrate 102. In other embodiments, lightly doped drain regions 124 a and 124 b can be disposed above substrate 102. For example, in one embodiment lightly doped drain region 124 a can extend to contact a semiconductor region of the same conductivity type as lightly doped drain region 124 a and substrate 102, such as, N type, where the semiconductor region is disposed between substrate 102 and semiconductor body 104. Furthermore, the semiconductor region can comprise a layer, for example, an epitaxially grown semiconductor layer, such that lightly doped drain region 124 b can also extend to contact the semiconductor region. Other embodiments can include an implanted region contacting lightly doped drain region 124 a and substrate 102 below trench 108 a and another implanted region contacting lightly doped drain region 124 b and substrate 102 below trench 108 b. Furthermore, each of the regions can be implanted using respective trenches 108 a and 108 b.

Also shown in FIG. 1, trenches 108 a and 108 b extend into semiconductor body 104 toward semiconductor substrate 102. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, bottom portion 112 a of trench 108 a and bottom portion 112 b of trench 108 b extend into substrate 102. However, in other embodiments bottom portions 112 a and 112 b can be situated above substrate 102, such that, trenches 108 a and 108 h are also situated above substrate 102. In such embodiments, lightly doped regions 124 a and 124 b can each extend to contact substrate 102.

Further shown in FIG. 1, channel regions 132 and source regions 130 a are formed adjacent respective sidewalls 110 a of trench 108 a. Similarly channel regions 132 and source regions 130 b are formed adjacent respective sidewalls 110 b of trench 108 b. Channel regions 132 are formed over semiconductor body 104 and are of the same conductivity type as semiconductor body 104, for example, P type. As shown in FIG. 1, shared channel region 132 including recessed surface 134 is situated between opposing inner sidewalls of sidewalls 110 a and 110 b and over a shared portion of semiconductor body 104. Furthermore, the inner sidewalls of sidewalls 110 a and 110 b are spaced laterally apart by shared channel region 132 and lightly doped drain regions 124 a and 124 b are spaced laterally apart by semiconductor body 104.

Source regions 130 a are formed over respective channel regions 132 and can comprise, for example, heavily doped N type semiconductor material. Dielectric caps 128 a and 128 b are disposed over respective gate electrodes 126 a and 126 b and fill a portion of respective trenches 108 a and 108 b, such that, gate electrode 126 a is recessed below a surface of source regions 130 a and gate electrode 126 b is recessed below a surface of source regions 130 b. FIG. 1 also shows source contact 136 disposed over recessed surface 134 forming an electrical contact for source regions 130 a and 130 b of vertically arranged LDMOS device 100.

In will be appreciated that vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 includes additional elements, for example, a drain electrode, not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity. Furthermore, various features can be modified to adjust device performance, such as, breakdown voltage. Also, vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 can include additional trenches in cellular arrangement, each cell including a trench. By allowing for closely spaced vertically arranged cells, the present invention can provide high-density LDMOS devices. As such, vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 can have significantly higher current conduction than conventional laterally arranged LDMOS devices for the same voltage. Furthermore, by reducing capacitances, the present invention can further provide for high switching frequency devices. For example, embodiments of the present invention can have switching speeds two to three times faster than conventional trench MOSFETs for the same voltage.

While an N-channel device is shown in FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that a vertically arranged LDMOS P-channel device can be formed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Other features and advantages of vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 will be set forth with reference to the method of FIG. 2 and related FIGS. 3A-3D.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows flowchart 200 describing a method for fabricating a vertically arranged LDMOS device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Certain details and features have been left out of flowchart 200 that are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a step may consist of one or more substeps or may involve specialized equipment or materials, as known in the art. Steps 270 through 276 indicated in flowchart 200 are sufficient to describe one embodiment of the present invention, however, other embodiments of the invention may utilize steps different from those shown in flowchart 200. It is noted that the processing steps shown in flowchart 200 are performed on a portion of processed wafer, which, prior to step 270, includes, among other things, a semiconductor body disposed over a substrate and pad material disposed over the semiconductor body. The processed wafer may also be referred to simply as a wafer or a semiconductor die or simply a die in the present application.

Moreover, structures 370 through 376 in FIGS. 3A through 3D show the result of performing steps 270 through 276 of flowchart 200, respectively. For example, structure 370 shows a semiconductor structure after processing step 270, structure 372 shows structure 370 after the processing of step 272, structure 374 shows structure 372 after the processing of step 274, and so forth.

Referring now to step 270 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A, step 270 of flowchart 200 comprises forming a trench extending into a semiconductor body and a dielectric material lining the trench. Structure 370 of FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of a structure including a substrate, after completion of step 270 of flowchart 200 in FIG. 2. Structure 370 includes substrate 302, semiconductor body 304, and trenches 308 a and 308 b corresponding respectively to substrate 102, semiconductor body 104, and trenches 108 a and 108 b in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3A, structure 370 further includes pad material 306 disposed over semiconductor body 304, which can be used to protect semiconductor body 304 and can also be used to form channel regions and source regions in semiconductor body 304 after step 276, for example channel regions 132 and source regions 130 a and 130 b in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, pad material 306 can comprise approximately 300 angstroms of silicon nitride over approximately 200 angstroms of grown oxide.

In structure 370, trenches 308 a and 308 b extend through pad material 306 and into semiconductor body 304 toward substrate 302. Trench 308 a includes sidewalls 310 a and bottom portion 312 a connecting sidewalls 310 a, which correspond respectively to sidewalls 110 a and bottom portion 112 a in FIG. 1. Similarly, trench 308 b includes sidewalls 310 b and bottom portion 312 b connecting sidewalls 310 b, which correspond respectively to sidewalls 110 b and bottom portion 112 b in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, bottom portions 312 a and 312 b extend into substrate 302. In another embodiment bottom portions 312 a and 312 b can be disposed above substrate 302 in semiconductor body 304.

Structure 370 also includes dielectric material 314 a, corresponding to dielectric material 114 a in FIG. 1, lining trench 308 a, and dielectric material 314 b, corresponding to dielectric material 114 a in FIG. 1, lining trench 308 b. In structure 370, dielectric material 314 a is disposed on sidewalls 310 a and bottom portion 312 a of trench 308 a and dielectric material 314 b is disposed on sidewalls 310 b and bottom portions 312 b. Dielectric material 314 a and 314 b can comprise thermally grown oxide and can comprise a thickness of, for example, approximately 80-100 angstroms. The result of step 270 of flowchart 200 is illustrated by structure 370 in FIG. 3A.

Referring now to step 272 in FIG. 2 and structure 372 in FIG. 3B, at step 272 of flowchart 200, diffusion agent layer 316 is disposed lining dielectric material 314 a and 314 b and insulative material 318 is disposed on diffusion agent layer 316 filling the trench. As shown in FIG. 3B, diffusion agent layer 316 is disposed lining dielectric material 314 a in trench 308 a and dielectric material 314 b in trench 308 b. Diffusion agent layer 316 can comprise, for example, phosphorous-doped oxide, and can be deposited in trenches 308 a and 308 b using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Furthermore, diffusion agent layer 316 can have a thickness of for example, approximately 600-800 angstroms. Also in FIG. 3B, insulative material 318 is disposed in trenches 308 a and 308 b filing trenches 308 a and 308 b. Insulative material 318 can comprise undoped oxide deposited in-situ, for example. The result of step 272 of flowchart 200 is illustrated by structure 372 in FIG. 3B.

Referring to step 274 in FIG. 2 and structure 374 in FIG. 3C, at step 274 of flowchart 200, diffusion agent layer 316, dielectric material 314 a, and insulative material 318 are etched back in trench 308 a forming etched trench portion 320 a above diffusion agent layer 316 a and insulative material 318 a, which correspond respectively to diffusion agent layer 116 a and insulative material 118 a in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, pad material 306 can act as an etch barrier for etching back diffusion agent layer 316, dielectric material 314 a, and insulative material 318.

Gate dielectric 322 a is disposed in etched trench portion 320 a over diffusion agent layer 316 a, dielectric material 314 a, and insulative material 318 a. Similarly diffusion agent layer 316, dielectric material 314 b, and insulative material 318 can be concurrently etched back in trench 308 b forming etched trench portion 320 b above diffusion agent layer 316 b and insulative material 318 b corresponding respectively to diffusion agent layer 116 b and insulative material 118 b in FIG. 1. Gate dielectric 322 b is disposed in etched trench portion 320 b over diffusion agent layer 316 b, dielectric material 314 b, and insulative material 318 b. Gate dielectrics 322 a and 322 b are formed on respective sidewalls 310 a and 310 b of trenches 308 a and 308 b and correspond respectively to gate dielectrics 122 a and 122 b in FIG. 1. Furthermore, gate dielectrics 322 a and 322 b can comprise, for example, thermally grown oxide, and can have a thickness of approximately 200 angstroms. The result of step 274 of flowchart 200 is illustrated by structure 374 in FIG. 3C.

Referring now to step 276 in FIG. 2 and structure 376 in FIG. 3D, at step 276 of flowchart 200, impurities (i.e. dopants) are diffused from diffusion agent layer 316 a through dielectric material 314 a to form lightly doped drain region 324 a extending laterally from diffusion agent layer 316 a into semiconductor body 304. Similarly, impurities are diffused from diffusion agent layer 316 b through dielectric material 314 b to form lightly doped drain region 324 b extending laterally from diffusion agent layer 316 b into semiconductor body 304. Lightly doped drain regions 324 a and 324 b correspond respectively to lightly doped drain regions 124 a and 124 b in FIG. 1. The result of step 276 of flowchart 200 is illustrated by structure 376 in FIG. 3D.

Additional process steps can be performed on structure 376 to form vertically arranged LDMOS devices, such as, vertically arranged LDMOS device 100 in FIG. 1. Thus, as discussed above, the invention achieves a vertically arranged LDMOS device. By providing high cell density, the present invention allows for vertically arranged LDMOS devices having high current conduction. Furthermore, by minimizing capacitances, for example, feedback capacitances, the vertically arranged LDMOS devices can realize high switching speeds, which can be two to three times faster than conventional trench MOSFETs.

From the above description of the invention it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts of the present invention without departing from its scope. Moreover, while the invention has been described with specific reference to certain embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Thus, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein but is capable of many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for fabricating a vertically arranged laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device comprising: forming a trench within a semiconductor body, said trench including sidewalls, a bottom portion, a dielectric material lining said trench and a diffusion agent layer lining said dielectric material; diffusing impurities from said diffusion agent layer through said dielectric material to form a lightly doped drain region extending laterally from said sidewalls of said trench into said semiconductor body.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising filling said trench with an insulative material.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein said semiconductor body is of a first conductivity type, and said lightly doped drain region is of a second conductivity type.
 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising forming a gate electrode in said trench over said diffusion agent layer.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein said trench is extended into a semiconductor substrate underlying said semiconductor body.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said bottom portion of said trench is disposed above said semiconductor substrate.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein said lightly doped drain region extends to said semiconductor substrate.
 28. A method for fabricating a vertically arranged laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device comprising: forming first and second trenches extending into a semiconductor body and a semiconductor substrate underlying said semiconductor body; forming a first lightly doped drain region adjoining said first trench and a second lightly doped drain region adjoining said second trench.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said first and second lightly doped drain regions are spaced laterally apart by said semiconductor body.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein said first and second trenches each includes sidewalls, a bottom portion, a dielectric material lining each trench and a diffusion agent layer lining said dielectric material.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said first and second lightly doped drain regions extend laterally from said sidewalls of said trenches into said semiconductor body.
 32. The method of claim 28, wherein said semiconductor body is of a first conductivity type, and said first and second lightly doped drain regions and said semiconductor substrate are of a second conductivity type.
 33. The method of claim 30, wherein said bottom portion of each of said first and second trenches is disposed above said semiconductor substrate.
 34. A method for fabricating a vertically arranged laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device comprising: forming a trench within a semiconductor body, said trench including sidewalls, a bottom portion, a diffusion agent layer lining said sidewalls; diffusing impurities from said diffusion agent layer through said sidewalls to form a lightly doped drain region extending from said sidewalls into said semiconductor body.
 35. The method of claim 34, further comprising filling said trench with an insulative material.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein said semiconductor body is of a first conductivity type, and said lightly doped drain region is of a second conductivity type.
 37. The method of claim 34, further comprising forming a gate electrode in said trench.
 38. The method of claim 34, wherein said lightly doped drain region extends into a semiconductor substrate underlying said semiconductor body. 